Engaged: "See, I am doing a new thing!"

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

It is with GREAT pleasure and excitement to announce and share that I recently proposed to Tessica Lanelle White and she said YES! We are getting married!!!

As I have shared with most, Tess and I were engaged almost two years ago, and due to many reasons, we called off the wedding three months before the wedding. With that decision, we also decided to hold our relationship and our future with open hands to our Heavenly Father. We really had no idea what would happen, but knew His plan and ways were higher than ours. Much higher. I can honestly say, because of the last 15 months of intense counsel, guidance, healing, relationship building, and maturing we are in an even stronger relationship with the Lord and with each other. We would never wish to go through the pain and tears of last year, but would never ever replace the results of God's refining process. He continues to refine us individually and together to more clearly and wholly reflect the Maker's face.

I wanted to share in more detail, for those interested, about how we got engaged!

I was on a fundraising trip to Southern California, meeting with friends, asking them to partner with me in ministry. Tess flew out to join me for the last two days of the trip to check out where she would be living, with our two new staff women and my sister, pray over UCSD where we would be ministering, and to see the city. We would both than be flying to Lake Tahoe for a family reunion of sorts. The day before we left, we had a free day together. We drove down to San Clemente to the Rainbow Sandal Shop. Rainbow Sandals are known as the 'best sandals in the world' according to many Southern Californians, and we had always talked about getting Tess a pair after she moved to California. After picking out the right pair, we went to Laguna Beach for lunch and went to BJ's Pizza, a favorite of ours.




After eating we went to a secluded spot on the beach, called Woods Cove. We set up our towel and sat watching the ocean for a few minutes. I turned to Tess and told her I had a gift for her, and pulled out of my back pack my high school letterman jacket. I explained to her that I had always hoped to have my high school girl wear it and keep it, but since I didn't really have a high school sweetheart, I wanted her to have it. Then I told her I have another gift for her and told her to close her eyes. With her eyes closed, I placed a new Bible on her lap with the name 'Tessica Lanelle Holechek' engraved on the cover. Tess began to cry as she looked down and saw the Bible. We embraced and I told her it was marked off to Luke 15 and the story of the Prodigal Son. We read it together and then I pointed out that the Father gave his returning son three items, or gifts: A robe, sandals, and a ring. I explained the jacket was like the robe, which symbolized royalty and honor, covering over his shame and restoring dignity (the jacket also has the Holechek name :)). Second, we had just gotten her a pair of sandals, which represented to the son and father, the chance to run away again. The Sandals were a representation of full trust and forgiveness, the father saying 'I love you and trust you enough to give you the means to do it again.' The ring the father gave the son represented being a son and part of the family. And so, standing up from the sitting position and getting on one knee in front of her, I pulled out the ring and asked her to marry me. She said YES!





I wanted the story and gifts to represent to Tess and I, that in our relationship we had both come to a place of forgiveness and complete trust in our relationship, that our pasts had been covered over and left in the past, and we were going to become one and a family!

After crying tears of joy together and talking, we prayed together and thanked the Lord for all He had done in our lives and for redeeming a broken relationship. I had also snuck some bread and mini wine in my backpack, and we had communion together, remembering what Christ had done and consciously putting Him first and center in our relationship. After that I told Tess I wanted to wash her feet as a sign of my desire to serve and lead in our marriage, and that I would place her above myself.


Thanks to my lovely sister Anne, we had a photographer and videographer in one, documenting our special time. Anne joined us soon after to congratulate us and take more pictures. When we were all done, we drove up to Los Angeles to celebrate with all my siblings: Dan, Dave, Stacy, Galina, and Anne! It was so fun to be able to celebrate with my family! The next day we flew to Tahoe and shared the news with all of my mom's family too!

Thank you so much for anyone interested enough to read this little story! We cannot wait to get married! We are tying the knot and making a covenant with God on December 21st of this year!!!

We love you all!!














PS. Here are a few more pictures of our engagement :)

The Awesome Works of God the King

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
       I will praise your name for ever and ever.

² Every day I will praise you
       and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
       his greatness no one can fathom.

⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;
       they will tell of your mighty acts.

⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
       and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
       and I will proclaim your great deeds.

⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness
       and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
       slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
       he has compassion on all he has made.

¹⁰ All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
       your saints will extol you.

¹¹ They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
       and speak of your might,

¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts
       and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
       and your dominion endures through all generations.
       The LORD is faithful to all his promises
       and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all those who fall
       and lifts up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
       and you give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ You open your hand
       and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
       and loving toward all he has made.

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
       to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
       he hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
       but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
       Let every creature praise his holy name
       for ever and ever.

 

I love this Psalm for a number of reasons, but the thing I love most is the focus on Gods might, righteousness, and provision.  Something I often ask God is that He would give me stories in my life, of Him providing and working miracles, that I will be able to share with people all that God has done and who He is.  I recall from my college days a number of mentors and speakers sharing stories that clearly displayed the thumbprint and heart of Jesus.  My desire for these stories was to be able to point to God’s works and say, ‘look how AWESOME our God is’ and truly mean the word awesome, all to bring glory to the Father, no one else.

This summer as I have prepared to move my fiancée, Tess, and myself out to San Diego on September 1st, getting ready for our new Staff-in-Training role at the University of California, I have asked God for many things that I would not be able to orchestrate alone.  The big things I have been trusting the Lord for this summer are:

1. $6,500 in monthly support.  The increase in my budget has more than doubled due to raising a budget for a couple, instead of one, the cost of living in San Diego, paying for rent (which I haven’t done the last two years), and I am transitioning out of my intern role into a full staff role.
2. Affordable housing in San Diego, preferably within 10 miles of campus in La Jolla.
3. A working vehicle to drive around in Southern California.  (This was after my car had a freak breakdown and early death.)
4. Renters for Tess’s two bedroom condo she owns in Colorado Springs.
5. A part-time job for Tess to start out in California.

It is exciting that our Heavenly Father has provided stories this summer that I longed for as a college student.  God has orchestrated housing for Tess and the two new staff women at UCSD through 5 different girls (including my sister) all moving into town the same month.  He also provided a wonderful living situation for me, less than 5 miles away from campus.  This will be a place that both Tess and I can live in after we get married! 

God has also provided a car for San Diego.  To find out more on this, read my previous blog entry.

And lastly, in just the last three days, God has once again shown His awesome works in even the small things.  We have found renters here in the Springs who will rent out Tess’s condo while we move into our new season and new city.  Praise the Lord!

We continue to trust the Lord in our move coming up in 14 days, with an additional $3,000 in monthly support, and finding Tess a part time job in San Diego.  Will you please continue to pray with us, that God would provide for our needs, in His time?  We continue to work and wait for an answer, knowing the great works are truly His. 

Thank you for standing with us. We have approximately 14 days until we are supposed to pack up and move to San Diego.  I thought it would be neat to write a blog post every day for the next two weeks, sharing what God is teaching me everyday, but also what we see happen in the areas we are asking for Him to provide.  Thank you so much for praying and supporting us. 

Let us commend His mighty acts. works, and goodness to one another, and to future generations.  Amen.

⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;
       they will tell of your mighty acts.

⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
       and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
       and I will proclaim your great deeds.

⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness
       and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

 

 

If you feel led to give to our ministry at UCSD and would like to give, just click ‘DONATE’ on the badge to the right under my blog profile.  Thanks!

Automobile Angst and Jehovah Jireh

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

One month ago my 1995 Oldsmobile 88 Royale with 91,000 miles was running like a top.  Three weeks ago my car began to smell of gasoline throughout the car including through the A/C vents.  I took the car in to get fixed and maintained at a local car repair shop, one of great rapport and integrity.  After hearing back on the car, I was informed that the problem was EXTREMELY dangerous and my car could have exploded at anytime.  Thank the Lord for protecting me from going up in cloud of smoke.  However, to fix the car it would cost me $500.  I was glad to get the car fixed and ready to go. 

Unfortunately, within a week of getting the car back, my auto shut down while driving my friends home.  I called AAA and had it towed back.  The repair shop let me know that the coolant gasket had melted and been destroyed, spewing coolant into my cylinders and engine.  This time it would cost $1,200 to fix.  I kept viewing these repairs as an investment in a car that would serve me for the next five years in ministry. 

WRONG AGAIN… 

After the car being fixed and being given the stamp of approval by the shop manager, five days later I found myself once again on the side of the road with an overheated car and my oil pressure light on.  Frustrated, I called the shop and they paid for it to be towed.  This time, the news was not hopeful.  My engine was shot. After pouring $1,700 into the car over two weeks, I would need to find a new car.

Throughout this month of turmoil on my car, I continued to speak with God, “I know you are in control, but what is going on?”  I have been preparing to move out to San Diego in September, but now having to find a new vehicle seemed like a monumental task.  I turned to God to provide and to the saints for prayer.  In my latest prayer update to all my contacts, I asked for prayer that God would provide the car he wants me to have.  A day later I received a phone call from sweet and dear friends saying they had a car for me.  While we talked, they said they had a 1997 Prizm in great condition, a 5 speed manual, FOR FREE.  After praying, in their incredible faithfulness to the Lord, they decided they wanted to provide and simply give me their car.  They want to sign it over to me for no price, with the only condition being if I ever decide to get a new car, I would return it back to be used or given elsewhere.  This was a HUMONGOUS answer to prayer and in such short time. 

In the Bible, starting in Genesis 22 with Abraham and Isaac, God is often identified with the name Jehovah Jireh, which means The Lord Will Provide.  In this certain story of Abraham and Isaac, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar.  Right as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, God stops him and provides a ram in place of Isaac.  Verse 14 of chapter 22 reads, “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”  Just as God provided for Abraham and Isaac, He still provides for His children today, in His own timing.  God often brings us through trials and times of complete trust, in order to grow our faith in Him. 

Phillipians 4:19 says: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  This verse has constantly come to mind as I have asked God what in the world He was doing.  I know that God promises to provide what we need; I don’t know how in most situations.  God puts me into places where He asks, do you believe what I say?  I am learning more and more, as Christ builds my faith muscle, that God is a man of His word, even when I often forget.  With this miraculous gift from God in such a short time I am reminded to trust His Word and promises.  Next time I am in dire need, I hope my first reaction is to remember how He provided this week. 

What are we trusting God for today?

Faithful in the Little Things

Today is July 27th, 2010.  I have officially been on my journey as a Navigator Staff in Training for two months.  Since finishing my time on EDGE Corps with The Navigators in May, I have been working on raising a budget that will allow me to minister and live well in San Diego, CA.  My budget covers my income, benefits, ministry expenses (man-to-man discipleship costs, training costs and resources, conferences, student scholarships, etc.), administrative costs, and cost of living increase.  The budget my supervisors have helped me come up with is increasing from $2,500 monthly to $6,500 monthly. 

As I am having to raise so much more money this summer, it has been quite the growing and trusting experience.  As God has led me to become a full time staff with the Navs, I am confident He will provide what I need in order to fulfill that calling.  After two months of fundraising, the Lord has brought in 35% of my budget.  On top of needing to raise a team of support around me, I have been trusting the Lord for housing and a working car (my car of two years was declared unfixable this week).  I constantly have in my mind the image of Peter walking on the water to Jesus, but quickly seeing the waves rise around him, Peter begins sinking.  At times, while looking to Jesus, I can feel myself being distracted and pulled down by the waves.  The waves of life in fundraising are things like the economy being low, how big of a jump my budget is taking, finding housing and a good situation in San Diego, my car breaking down, having a long way to go on fundraising, and distractions. 

As I have met and talked with a mentor of mine, he reminded me that fundraising, as anything in life, takes prayer and work.  I need to be faithful in the little things that God has called me to, and trust God to take care of the big picture and provisions.  Much like ministry, I need to be faithful in what God has called me to, having face to face appointments, calling supporters, sending out letters, and more.  The fruit of my labor and faith is all in God’s hands.  I truly believe, God will provide through the people he chooses, whose hearts he moves in to be a part of my support team and what we are doing at the University of California, San Diego.  God has placed me in a situation that provision and fruit is all to His glory and power.  I am excited and ecstatic with every new partner, with every new gift, and with every provision.  I am so excited to be able to share the stories of how God has, will, and is providing.  Thank you for any and all faithful readers.  I ask you to pray for God’s provision this summer.  I will be sharing the stories of what God does to provide in the way he chooses to.  Thank you for all you do in my life and standing with me.

More to come soon,

      Stephen